402 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
making the usual crackling sound. About this time, while I was out doors, I 
heard a peculiar " singing " at two or three places on the wire ; when I approached 
near one of these places the sound would cease but would recommence as I with- 
drew two or three feet. Thinking at first that the wind might possibly make the 
noise, though it was only between six and seven miles an hour, and that I cut 
this off when I approached the wire I stood at a distance and advanced my hand 
on every side and above and below, but the effect was always the same, the 
noise stopping when my hand came near the point^and recommencing when it was 
withdrawn. 
June 1 6. — At 5 P. M. as I was sitting on a rock a blinding flash darted from 
a cloud, succeeded by a quick, deafening report, and at the same time I felt the 
electricity darting through my entire person, jerking my extremities together as 
though by a most violent convulsion and leaving a tingling sensation in them for 
a quarter of an hour. An assistant who was sawing wood in a shed received a 
similar violent shock, and said that a ball of lightning appeared to pass through 
the store room and wood-shed, leaving a strong sulphurous smell. 
June 17. — Found lightning arrestor at lake house badly burned by yesterday's 
lightning, making a ground connection. 
June 27. — Very decided electrical displays occurred all the afternoon and 
evening, and many vivid sparks came into the rooms on the wire. 
June 28. — Vivid flashes almost constant from 3 to 7 P. M. Bright flashes 
were of frequent occurrence in the room and the crackling noise in the lightning 
arrestor did not cease for a moment. 
July 13. — Near sunset the peculiar singing noise on the wire previously 
spoken of was heard very distinctly, and it also seemed to come from the surface 
•of the instrument shelter and house as well as from the wire. 
July 23. — Rain-storm with electricity. The anemometer stopped working 
■on account of the electric storm. 
July 31. — Rainy day. Could not get the base station. 
August 6. — Atmosphere highly charged with electricity. Anemometer stop 
ped working on this account. 
August 18. — Mention was made previously of singing noise in wire. To- 
night it was not only heard, but the line for one-eighth of a mile was distinctly 
outlined in brilliant light, which was thrown out from the wire in beautiful scintil- 
lations. Near us we could observe these little jets of flame very plainly. They 
were invariably in the shape of quadrant and the rays concentrated at the surface 
of the line in a small mass about the size of a currant, which had a bluish tinge. 
These little quadrants of light were constantly jumping from one point of the line 
to another, now pointing in one direction, and again in another. There was no 
heat to the light and when I touched the wire I could only feel the slightest ting- 
ling sensation. 
Not only was the wire outlined in this manner, but every exposed metallic 
point and surface was similarly tipped or covered. The cups of the anemometer 
appeared as four balls of fire, revolving slowly around a common center; the 
